NOTES ON TAXONOMY AND BIOLOGY: This cyst forming nematode has
sedentary endoparasitic habits and it is morphologically similar to H.
cyperi. Cysts are persistent tanned sacs derived by the female body
and contain the eggs. Cysts persist in soil for many years. Second-stage
juveniles (J2) emerge from the cysts, penetrate host roots and establish
a specialized feeding site (syncytium) in the stele. They develop producing
swollen females, which retain the eggs without production of egg masses.
Females rupture root cortex and protrude from the root surface. At the
end of the reproductive phase, females die and become lemon shaped dark
to mid-brown cysts. These cysts are ambifenestrate and usually lack bullae,
but have a strong underbridge with a subcircular central mass. J2
have a lateral field marked by 3 incisures as that of H. cyperi.
This species differs from H. cyperi
by the longer female stylet
(22-28 vs 22 µm) and by a large transparent subcircular mass attached
to the underbridge, which is not present on the underbridge of H. cyperi
cysts (Jairajpuri et al.1979).

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION: This cereal cyst nematode has been reported
only in India (CAB International, 2001).